SAG-AFTRA warns on music videos

May issue 'do not work' order for performers amid stalled talks

Citing stalled contract talks, SAG-AFTRA is warning that it may approve a “do not work” order for its members working on musicvideos as dancers.

In a notice to members, the merged union announced Wednesday that it will consider a unanimous recommendation by its newly formed executive committee, which met over the weekend in New York. The national board’s first meeting will be May 19-20 in Los Angeles.

“Once implemented, SAG-AFTRA members may not accept employment as performers in any musicvideo not produced under a SAG-AFTRA contract,” the performers said. “A Do Not Work order for musicvideos is a result of the major record labels refusing to agree to a contract that meets the critical needs of musicvideo performers.”

A few days before the merger went through, the national board of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists approved authorization of a “do not work” order. AFTRA covered the work.

At that point AFTRA noted that negotiations for a musicvideo contract with reps from Sony, UMG, Warner, EMI, Disney and their subsidiary labels launched last June, with the most recent round occurring Jan. 11 and 12. AFTRA said the terms offered by the labels were referred to by one member as “reprehensible.”